Political mutilation in Byzantine culture

/ (Christos Boumpoulis)
, 24 2016 03:19 - , 24 2016 04:21

Mutilation in the Byzantine Empire was a common method of punishment for criminals of
the era but it also had a role in the Empire's political life. The mutilation of political rivals by the
Emperor was deemed an effective way of sidelining from the line of succession a person who
was seen as a threat. In Byzantine culture the Emperor was a reflection of heavenly authority.
Since God was perfect the Emperor also had to be unblemished; any mutilation, especially
facial wounds, would disqualify an individual from taking the throne. An exception was Justinian
II (, "the slit-nosed") who had his nose cut off (Greek - rhinokopia) when he was
overthrown in 695 but was able to become Emperor again in 705. Some disfigurements
practised bore a secondary practical rationale as well. This can be seen in a common method of
maiming, blinding. By blinding a rival one would not only restrict their mobility but make it almost
impossible for them to lead an army into battle, then an important part of taking control of the
Empire. Castration was also used to eliminate potential opponents. In the Byzantine Empire, for
a man to be castrated meant that he was no longer a man, half-dead, "life that was half death".
Castration also eliminated any chance of heirs being born to threaten either the Emperor or the
Emperor's children's place at the throne.

Blinding as a punishment for political rivals and a recognized penalty for treachery was
established in 705, although Emperor Phocas used it earlier during his rule as well, becoming
common practice from Heraclius onwards. Castration as a punishment for political rivals did not
come into use until much later, becoming popular in the 10th and 11th centuries. Castrated men
were not seen as a threat, as no matter how much power they gained they could never take the
throne,[why?] and numerous eunuchs were entrusted with high and confidential offices in the
Byzantine court and administration. A good example is that of Basil Lekapenos, the illegitimate
son of the Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos, who was castrated when young. He gained enough

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power to become parakoimomenos and effective prime minister for three successive emperors,
but could not assume the throne himself. Other mutilations were the severing of the nose or the
amputating of limbs.

The last to use this method voluntarily was Michael VIII Palaiologos, although some of his
successors were forced to use it again by the Ottoman Sultans.

Cases of disfigurement
Victim Date Disfigurement Details R

Alexios Philanthropenos 1295 Blinded Governor of the

Thracesian Theme
Andronikos III Palaiologos

[8]

Anastasius of Constantinople 743 Blinded For supporting

Artabasdos
Constantine V

[9]

Artabasdos 743 Blinded Artabasdos and his sonsNik

Nikephoros
etas were b
Constantine V
Iconoclasm crisis

[10]

Sisinnios 743 Blinded Strategos o

Thracesians
Constantine V
Artabasdos

[11]
[12]

Antiochos, David, Theophylact

kandidatos
of Iconium, Christopher,
, and 11Constantine,
others Theophylact
766 the
Blin

Constantine
Strategios Podopagouros

[13]

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John Athalarichos 637 Nose and hands amputated

Amputation carried out after h
Heraclius

[14]

Bardanes Tourkos 803/804 Blinded Led an unsuccessful revolt ag

Nikephoros I

[15]

Bardas Phokas 1026 Blinded Accused of plotting against

Constantine VIII

[16]

Constantine Diogenes 1095 Blinded Impostor pretender, led a

Cuman
Thrace
Alexios I Komnenos

[17]

Philippikos Bardanes , Theodore Myakes, George

713 Bouraphos Blinded
A re
Opsician troops

[18]

Callinicus I of Constantinople 705 Blinded Supported the over

Justinian II

[19]

Constantine , Basil, Gregory and Theodosios

820 Castrated The sons of
Leo V the Armenian
Michael II the Amorian
Prote

[20]

Leo Phokas the Elder 919 Blinded Rose up aga

Romanos Lekapenos

[21]

Constantine Aspietes 1090/1 Blinded Suspected of plotting a rev

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Isaac II Angelos

[22]

Leo Phokas the Younger, Nikephoros971

Phokas Blinded Plotted a rev
John I Tzimiskes

[23]

Nikephoros 792 Blinded Uncle of Co

nstantine VI
tagmata
Battle of Marcellae

[24]
[25]

Alexios Mosele 792 Blinded General of the

Armeniacs
Irene of Athens
Constantine VI

[24]

Constantine Diogenes 10281034 [A 1] Blinded The popular general w

Romanos III Argyros

[26]

Nikephoros Bryennios 1078 Blinded Nikephoros had rebelled a

Michael VII
Nikephoros III Botaneiates
Alexios Komnenos
Kalavrye

[27]

Nikephoros Diogenes 1094 Blinded Nikephoros was Romanos

Eudokia Makrembolitissa
Alexios I Komnenos

[28]

Romanos Diogenes 1072 Blinded Andronikos

Doukas had Romanos IV D

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[29]

Heraklonas 641 Nose slit Overthrown, disfigured and

Co exiled by
nstans II

[30]

Theophylact, Staurakios and Niketas (the

Patriarch
futureIgnatius 813 Castrated

Michael I Rhangabe
Leo V the Armenian

[31]

Justinian II 695 Nose cut off Overthrown, disfigured and

Leoexiled by
ntios

[3]

John IV Laskaris 1261 Blinded Made Emperor at seven years o

[32]

Basil Lekapenos 920944 [A 2] Castrated As an infant he was castrat

Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos

[6]

Martina 641 Tongue cut out Overthrown, disfigured and

Consta
exiled by sup
ns II [
30]

The family of John the Orphanotrophos 1041 Castrated

Michael V
John the Orphanotrophos'

[4]

John the Orphanotrophos 1043 Blinded Was seen as a threat s

patriarch of Constantinople
Michael Cerularius

[26]

Prousianos 1029 Blinded After a supposed plot against

Ro
manos III Argyros

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[26]

Theodorus 637 Nose, hands and one leg Mutilated

amputated for being a co-p
Heraclius

[14]

Isaac II Angelos 1195 Blinded He was blinded and deposed by

Alexios III Angelos

Leontios 698 Blinded He was blinded and deposed

Tiberi by
os III and later
Justinian II

[ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_mutilation_in_Byzantine_culture ]
Peace is better than non-peace. Civilization is better than barbarity. Non-violence is better
than violence. Justice
is better than injustice.

Friendship and non-relationship are both better than hatred.

Prosperity is better than misery.

Freedom is better than slavery.

In order for us all to enjoy; Peace, Freedom, Justice, non-violence, an advanced humanitarian
Civilization, Harmonious coexistence and Prosperity, we better; support, protect, promote,
honor and follow those who embody human properties of the best kind. Otherwise, we risk the
unwilling reinstatment of the medieval ethics, by those who are willing and able to, dreadfully,
rationalize the insane violence.

Cases of disfigurement[edit] Victim Date Disfigurement Details Reference Alexios

Philanthropenos 1295 Blinded Governor of the Thracesian Theme, he rose up against
Andronikos III Palaiologos, but was captured by loyalist soldiers and blinded [8] Anastasius of
Constantinople 743 Blinded For supporting Artabasdos's usurpation against Constantine V he
was blinded [9] Artabasdos 743 Blinded Artabasdos and his sons Nikephoros and Niketas were
blinded for his failed insurrection against Constantine V during the Iconoclasm crisis [10]
Sisinnios 743 Blinded Strategos of the Thracesians, he supported Constantine V against
Artabasdos but was blinded after the former's victory due to suspicions of conspiring to seize
the throne himself. [11][12] Antiochos, David, Theophylact of Iconium, Christopher, Constantine,
Theophylact the kandidatos, and 11 others 766 Blinded High-ranking provincial governors and
court officials, members of a group of nineteen who conspired against Constantine V. The plot
was discovered and its members publicly paraded at the Hippodrome on 25 August 766. The

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two ringleaders, brothers Constantine and Strategios Podopagouros, were executed, the rest
blinded and exiled, and every year imperial agents were sent to deliver 100 lashes. [13] John
Athalarichos 637 Nose and hands amputated Amputation carried out after he tried to overthrow
his father, Heraclius [14] Bardanes Tourkos 803/804 Blinded Led an unsuccessful revolt against
Nikephoros I and surrendered. Blinded whilst in confinement in a monastery, likely on
Nikephoros' orders. [15] Bardas Phokas 1026 Blinded Accused of plotting against Constantine
VIII [16] Constantine Diogenes 1095 Blinded Impostor pretender, led a Cuman invasion of
Thrace against Alexios I Komnenos [17] Philippikos Bardanes , Theodore Myakes, George
Bouraphos 713 Blinded A rebellion of Opsician troops succeeded in getting a number of men
into the city where they were able to blind Philippicus at a bathhouse on June 3, 713. He was
followed a week later by the patrikios Theodore Myakes and a week after that by the Count of
the Opsicians, the patrikios George Bouraphos [18] Callinicus I of Constantinople 705 Blinded
Supported the overthrow of Justinian II and was blinded when he came back to power in 705
[19] Constantine , Basil, Gregory and Theodosios 820 Castrated The sons of Leo V the
Armenian, who was deposed on Christmas 820 by Michael II the Amorian. They were exiled to
Prote, castrated and confined to a monastery as monks [20] Leo Phokas the Elder 919 Blinded
Rose up against the assumption of power by Romanos Lekapenos but was captured and
blinded [21] Constantine Aspietes 1090/1 Blinded Suspected of plotting a revolt against Isaac II
Angelos because he distributed delayed pay to his troops. [22] Leo Phokas the Younger,
Nikephoros Phokas 971 Blinded Plotted a revolt against John I Tzimiskes [23] Nikephoros 792
Blinded Uncle of Constantine VI, blinded, while his four brothers had their tongues cut, after the
tagmata conspired to put him on the throne in the aftermath of the Battle of Marcellae. [24][25]
Alexios Mosele 792 Blinded General of the Armeniacs, blinded because of their refusal to
acknowledge Irene of Athens as empress and co-ruler of Constantine VI. [24] Constantine
Diogenes 10281034[A 1] Blinded The popular general was blinded because of a supposed plot
against Romanos III Argyros [26] Nikephoros Bryennios 1078 Blinded Nikephoros had rebelled
against Michael VII in 1077, and continued his rebellion against Nikephoros III Botaneiates.
Defeated and captured by Alexios Komnenos at Kalavrye, he was blinded [27] Nikephoros
Diogenes 1094 Blinded Nikephoros was Romanos IV Diogenes' son with Eudokia
Makrembolitissa; Emperor Alexios I Komnenos had him blinded after charging him with treason
[28] Romanos Diogenes 1072 Blinded Andronikos Doukas had Romanos IV Diogenes blinded
after tricking him into stepping down as Emperor [29] Heraklonas 641 Nose slit Overthrown,
disfigured and exiled by supporters of Constans II [30] Theophylact, Staurakios and Niketas (the
future Patriarch Ignatius 813 Castrated Sons of Michael I Rhangabe, they were castrated after
his overthrow by Leo V the Armenian [31] Justinian II 695 Nose cut off Overthrown, disfigured
and exiled by supporters of Leontios [3] John IV Laskaris 1261 Blinded Made Emperor at seven
years old, he was overthrown and blinded when he was just eleven years old. [32] Basil
Lekapenos 920944[A 2] Castrated As an infant he was castrated for being born an illegitimate
son to Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos [6] Martina 641 Tongue cut out Overthrown, disfigured
and exiled by supporters of Constans II [30] The family of John the Orphanotrophos 1041
Castrated Michael V castrated all male members of John the Orphanotrophos' family [4] John
the Orphanotrophos 1043 Blinded Was seen as a threat so he was blinded by the patriarch of
Constantinople Michael Cerularius [26] Prousianos 1029 Blinded After a supposed plot against
Romanos III Argyros he was blinded [26] Theodorus 637 Nose, hands and one leg amputated
Mutilated for being a co-planner in Athalarichos' attempt to overthrow Heraclius [14] Isaac II
Angelos 1195 Blinded He was blinded and deposed by his brother Alexios III Angelos Leontios

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698 Blinded He was blinded and deposed by Tiberios III and later killed by Justinian II in 705.

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